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NP-SL Ltd Continues to Render Qualitative Petroleum Related Services to All and Sundry  

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) continues to make meaningful inroads within the petroleum landscape of this country. Based on effective and efficient service delivery, the result oriented company has drawn wide-spread commendations from near and far for holding the fort for too long, weathering various storms.

The company, formed years back by certain selfless Sierra Leoneans (thirty-five of them), has grown by infusing business oriented  initiatives that have helped in transforming it into a towering company within the business landscape of this country and even in the West African sub-region where it has vibrant operational branches.

One major thing which these local investors considered very paramount that has catapulted the company is the premium placed on optimizing customer care, which, they believe, will put the company in a very good stead to widen its customers’ base. It was against such a backdrop that they decided to import and install calibrated pumping machines at the company’s various Filling Stations, which are very capable of churning out the right quantity of fuel and at the same time display the corresponding price.

The introduction of these machines was a big welcome to many, as it is constantly instilling the feeling that they are getting the right quantity of petroleum products, petrol or diesel as well as lubricants, against what is being paid for. Hitherto, the old pumping machines were not so sophisticated and created leeway through which certain unscrupulous pump attendants clandestinely cheated customers by not pumping the requisite quantity of fuel requested for. However, with the latest calibrated machines, such became a thing of the past, making petroleum transactions at the company’s Filling Stations very transparent.

NP-SL made it a laid down policy to have a whole Customer Care Department that is charged with the responsibility to address the concerns of its customers and by extension members of the public. The inputs from members of the public are, most times, taken into consideration whenever meetings are convened, out of which resolutions are adopted that are tailored to give satisfaction in terms of responding to concerns and embracing certain recommendations.

The buoyant oil marketing company is the premier and sustainable indigenous business entity in this country, as it is hundred percent owned by Sierra Leoneans. One thing that they laid emphasis on is to give preference, in terms of employment, to exclusively Sierra Leoneans instead of considering bringing foreigners on board, except in instances where local expertise could not be sourced.

This stance on the part of the company is in sync with the country’s Local Content Policy, which underpins making use of local human and material resources in the production and service delivery chain. By giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans, the company has been positively contributing towards poverty alleviation and availing individuals the opportunities to live improved standards of living. The policy is truly in tune with fulfilling one of the pillars of the national economic agenda.

With regards rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, NP-SL has been doing so steadily and progressively. The company has been giving institutional support to certain institutions.

Besides, the company sometime in the recent past joined the fray in trying to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country when it donated the sum of one Billion Leones to the Emergency Operation Centre, as its own support in the fight against the spread of the virus. This gesture was highly appreciated and the company was commended for its timely response.

The company’s introduction of a Smart Card to purchase fuel has been widely applauded as a very good initiative. A particular customer, with money in his or her NP Smart Card, could easily put in for the quantity of petrol or diesel that he or she wants and the supply is facilitated, after which the amount of money expended is deducted from the card. It is a very convenient way of doing such transactions in a cashless manner. Its biggest advantage is that it creates room for a customer to budget for fuel purchase over time. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are presently using it, saying they prefer it than using physical cash.

Some users of NP Gas that this medium spoke with, intimated how it is a very good device which has a high speed performance and very environmentally useful and friendly. Manufactured in different cylinder shapes, it is portable and affordable. NP Gas could be secured at all the company’s major Filling Stations, where the gas to refill it could be accessed.

The company has really exhibited that it is poised to expand its operations, a determination that has been manifested in opening branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all those countries, those NP branches are doing extremely well in terms of service delivery and payment of taxes to the home Governments.

Indisputably, there is no way that we can talk of a very successful company, amidst challenges encumbered along the way, without mentioning NP-SL because the company is greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of nations.

Launched By Information Minister… Dubawa Commences 3 Days Training for Journalists on Fact-Checking

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has on Tuesday 13th July, 2021 officially launched the Dubawa Sierra Leone, which is a Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) Project,  with a core mandate to restore the eroding trust in newsrooms.

The launching, which took place at The Country Lodge Hotel on Hill Station in Freetown, will be followed by three (3) days residential training for selected journalists and bloggers from different media houses across the country in fact-checking skills, digital tools, right to information laws and data journalism on the theme: “Stemming the Spread of Misinformation to Advance Good Governance and Democracy in Sierra Leone” slated to commence from the 14th –Friday 16th July 2021 at The Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown.

In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Dapo Olorunyomi, disclosed that they are super excited for such a development, which he continued, is one element in the broad mission of Premium Times’ strategy to help deepen the primacy of ethics in governance, in policy making and in journalism within the ECOWAS sub-region.

He further revealed that as part of their lined up activities , Dubawa will  train selected journalists and bloggers from different media houses in fact-checking skills, digital tools, right to information laws and data journalism which he said will equip those participants with skills in fact-checking and verification in order to combat the widespread regime of misinformation in the West African sub-region and to also contribute to knowledge around information disorder in the country.

Delivering his chairperson opening remarks, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, applauded Dubawa Sierra Leone for organizing the three (3) days residential training for selected journalists and bloggers from different media houses across the country in fact-checking skills, digital tools, right to information laws and data journalism describing it as a move in the right direction.

He said the media has been overwhelmed by technological advancement or is being consumed by a rapidly growing digital environment with no control.

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla maintained that in this age of growing information crisis, which he said, is a much more devastating pandemic than COVID-19, coupled with the digital revolution, the media has become a victim of circumstance furthering that fact-checking organizations like Dubawa are the rescuers.

He furthered that the least presentation of facts, political propaganda, political appetizing falsehood, distorted news, conspiracy theories and many more can spread quickly unless fact checking organizations like Dubawa step in to help limit the negative impacts of such type of information in the country.

Speaking on the Story So Far about PTCIJ (DUBAWA) Programme Officer of Dubawa Ghana, Caroline Anipah revealed that Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) is a media and innovation organization founded in 2014 to promote a genuinely independent media landscape in West Africa through investigative journalism, fact-checking, open data and civic technology, adding that over the years, PTCIJ has rolled out various projects and programmes to achieve its vision of an independent media landscape One of such projects is Dubawa.

She also pointed out that Dubawa is a fact-checking and verification platform that PTCIJ has promoted for over three years also intimating  how Dubawa is a Hausa word meaning ‘to check’, and it operates in Nigeria, Ghana, and has finally been launched in Sierra Leone furthering that Dubawa seeks to counter the upsurge of misinformation and disinformation, commonly called fake news, by influential persons, groups and organizations across the West African region.

Caroline Anipah maintained that Dubawa remains a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) Codes and Principles which guides their practice and is also a member of the Facebook third-party fact-checking programme.

She revealed that they have trained over three hundred (300) journalists and have held training sessions in Nigerian and Ghanaian universities with journalism programmes.

“Dubawa’s journey would not have been possible without its funders, the MacArthur Foundation, Heinrich Boll Stiftung Foundation (HBS), National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) etc,” she also informed.

The Programme Officer of Dubawa Ghana said that Dubawa’s mission is to institute a culture of truth and verification in public discourse and journalism through strategic partnerships between the media, Government, civil society organizations, technology giants and the public.

Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, expressed appreciation to Dubawa for the laudable venture it is taking to empower journalists on fact-checking skills, digital tools, right to information laws and data journalism which he described as very important towards the development of the media landscape in the country.

He said that the administration of President Bio has committed to improve the media landscape in the country and the launch of the Dubawa platform in Sierra Leone is in line with the President’s vision of having a productive media space.

The Minister stated that misinformation and fake news have had negative effects on society especially in an age where technology has grown exponentially adding how one cannot deny the necessity of such a platform which enhances fact checking of information.

On behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, the Minister welcomed Dubawa to Sierra Leone and also looks forward to a sustainable partnership with the Ministry.

He further assured them of his relentless support furthering that he is with the strong conviction that other stakeholders in the media landscape in the country will extend the same support to them.

Climaxing the event was the official launching of Dubawa Sierra Leone by the Honourable Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swarray.

Pres. Bio Appoints Chairman & Eight Others to Independent Peace Commission

By Amin Kef Sesay

President Julius Maada Bio has, on the 13th July 2021, appointed the Chairman and eight Board members of the newly established Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion Act 2020.

The Commission will enhance national efforts to rebuild State institutions, improve security, promote inclusive democratic governance and create channels for dialogue and reconciliation.

The following individuals were appointed but subject to the approval of Parliament:

  1. Sheka Mansaray – Chairman
  2. Haja Mrs.Alari Cole – Board Member, Western Region
  3. Mrs.Olivia Fonnie – Board Member, Southern Region
  4. Mr Mohamed Salam Conteh –  Board Member, Eastern Region
  5. Joseph .A Turay – Board Member, Northern Region
  6. Alhaji Suliaman Bah – Board Member, North-Western Region
  7. C.Sheku Fasuluku – Board Member, Paramount Chief
  8. Dr.Shodanke Johnson – Board Member, Religious Body
  9. Valnora Edwin -Board Member, Civil Society Organization

It could be recalled that on the 8th December 2020 the House of Parliament unanimously passed into law the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion Bill that was presented before it by the then Honourable Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis, after several debates and scrutiny of the bill.

Professor Francis thanked the leadership of Parliament and Honourable
Members from all sides for bringing the process to a final stage of enactment. He called on Parliamentarians to look at the spirit of the bill and the genuine intention of His Excellency the President, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio of making Sierra Leone a peaceful and develop country.

The Chief Minister stated at that time how he Commission will build the foundation for permanent peace and promote development in the country.

Economic Empowerment and Human Rights- SL Capacitates Tonkolili District with SRHR Training

By Alusine Rehme Wilson

A Non-Governmental Organization, the Economic Empowerment and Human Rights Sierra Leone has on the 12th June 2021 successfully engaged key stakeholders in the North-Eastern District of Tonkolili on a capacity building dialogue focused on the Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights-(SRHR) in the district with funding from Amplify Change.

The training took place at the Tonkolili District Council Hall and Fodie Paul Oniel Kamara; a Consultant Organization Development Practitioner was the lead facilitator. Kamara praised the participants for being responsive throughout the training sessions especially during the illustrative group discussion centered on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in the district. He said the participants did prove to be fit for the purpose and all their ideas and submission to the discussed are amazing for the promotion of SRHR in their district.

He highlighted that his mandate also involves putting together a draft that will be eventually validated by key stakeholders of Tonkolili before review and final adoption of the document by EEHRSL by August this year.

On his part, the Director of Economic Empowerment and Human Rights Sierra Leone (EEHRSL) Michael Lusani also expressed similar sentiments about the participants.

He underscored that the training is among EEHRSL activities line up for the 12-month project which has gained support from Amplify Change. “We are implementing this project in five chiefdoms with the aim of producing a reference document that will become an advocacy policy tool for Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights in  line with the project theme: “Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Right in Tonkolili District.”

“This is the third training we have rolled out for these set of key stakeholders and duty bearers. Our partners from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs as well as the Tonkolili District Council are also involved. Already we have received commitments from some stakeholders to support our organization’s drive to help reduce the high rate of maternal mortality, teenage and adolescence pregnancies and sexual penetration and rape cases in the district,” he remarked.

Responding to questions about the project’s sustainability and inroads the organization has achieved so far, since  their intervention last December in the five chiefdoms of Tonkolili District namely, Kholifa Rowala, Taneh, Gbonkolenken, Konikay Sanda and Konikay Barineh chiefdom, Lusani said they have not only trained school authorities, councillors, religious leaders among others but have also held media sensitization on local networks in the district to further broaden the understanding of the people about the dangers of depriving anyone especially women from enjoying their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.

He further emphasized that the Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights is universal and for EEHRSL it remains one of their core areas of operations. This is why through this project they have successfully been able to establish health clubs in schools and pupils have since been learning and understanding a lot about their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights as well as the limitations to those rights.

Lusani appealed for more support from the donor to tap on the energies and overwhelming statements of commitments from Local and customary Leaders, Health and Social Workers to extend the project to the remaining 14 chiefdoms in Tonkolili district by way of sufficing and sustaining the achievements of the project attained so far.

Conclusively, he threw the challenge to the Tonkolili District Council to discuss and make a budget for the final document. EEHRSL will be publishing by August before the end of the project to ensure that the document serves as an Advocacy Policy Tool for the district that can be embraced by the Council, Line Ministries and Agencies to help address the huge constraints posed by lack of knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.

The Gender Officer at the Tonkolili District Council Alieu Sesay was among participants capacitated by Economic Empowerment and Human Rights Sierra Leone. He said the content of the training is life changing for participants, admitting that the knowledge gained will assist him further in the best exercise of his duties as mandated by the council because EEHRSL drive to promote SRHR in the district is in line with principles and recommendations of the three Gender Acts of Sierra Leone.

“I will mount robust outreach scheme in all schools in the operational areas of the Council to further enlighten teenage and adolescent girls in schools about Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights effective next academic year,” he stated.

Mabel Farma the District Health Sister-1 at the Tonkolili District Health Management Team commended EEHRSL for their timely intervention and for considering the health sector among key partners of national development.

She confirmed that a large number of her staff and other health workers have also benefited from her ideas attained from trainings conducted by EEHRSL on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights. “I normally share these ideas to my staff and mostly during general meetings,” she remarked.

While shedding light on primary challenges encountered in the health sector, she blamed parents and education policy makers for the high level of illiteracy among women and teenage girls on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights which has been fuelling the gradual increase in the rate of maternal mortality as recorded in various health centers in the district.  She, however, urged Government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education to reintroduce Sexual Education in school in order to reduce complications that usually arise during service deliveries.

Group presentation by participants, pre-validation of the Advocacy Policy Draft and group photo taken by participants, facilitator together with staff of Economic Empowerment and Human Right Sierra Leone climaxed the training.

Guma Board on Improved Service Delivery and Revenue Mobilization Drive

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Board of Directors and a cross section of senior Management of Guma Valley Water Company have concluded a two-day engagement with staff of the three Guma Area Offices (Central, West and East).

The aim of the two-day engagement with staff according to the Chairman of the Board, Hon. Mrs. Bintu Myers was to discuss and chart the way forward on how to improve on staff productivity which will result to improve service delivery and increased revenue generation.

Hon. Bintu Myers said the Board she is heading does not believe in sitting in the office and signing documents; “we want to come out in the field and see for ourselves what the successes and challenges are”.

During the two-day engagement, the Chairman of the Board informed the staff about the low revenue currently being generated which she added is hindering the day-to-day operations of the company. Hon. Myers thanked the staff for the good work they have been doing and ask them to work harder. The Board Chairman said there have been tremendous improvements in terms of the company’s overall performance since she took up office and that she intends to maintain the high standards throughout her tenure of office.

The Board Chairman implored the staff to be very polite when dealing with customers and advised that customers’ complaints and queries should be promptly addressed. Hon. Bintu Myers called on the staff to desist from practices that are injurious to the well-being of the company; “if staff productivity and revenue collection improves, the Board will ask Management to give you more incentives at the end of the year”, she asserted.

In their statements during the engagement, Chairman of the Finance Sub Committee, Director Peter Amara said all departments and units should support the Commercial department for revenue collection to improve; and the Chairman of the Human Resources Sub Committee, Hon. Safula Moijueh said staff must comply fully with the HR policies of the company and conduct themselves properly at all times in the course of executing their daily duties.

Making his remarks, the Deputy Managing Director Francis Lahai said the company is working with 5 Strategic Pillars under its Strategic Performance Improvement Plan (SPIP) which includes supply of adequate and potable water, capacity building, infrastructure development (mains extensions, repair and reducing leakages, etc.), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and revenue generation and mobilization.

The Deputy Managing Director called on the staff to give concrete feedback to the issues discussed so as to help the Board and Management make informed decisions.

Responding, the Area staff cited inadequate water supply as the primary reason for the low revenue collection and called on the Board and Management to find ways and means to improve on the water supply to their respective areas.

The two-day engagement culminated in the generation of about 30 resolutions and recommendations which all parties involved promised to work towards for improved service delivery, revenue mobilization and improved customer satisfaction.

Top Indian Universities to Commence Tele-Education Via Fourah Bay College

Amin Kef Sesay

A Learning Centre for online education from select or certain Indian Universities at the Library Building of the Fourah Bay College was inaugurated on the 9th July 2021 by Prof. Alpha Wurie, Minister of Technical & Higher Education accompanied by the High Commissioner of India, Rakesh Arora.

The Learning Centre consists of a Computer Lab & Multi-media Room for students meant for attending lectures and taking examinations. All the equipment required for the Project (computer systems, smart-screens, networking equipment, UPS, furniture, internet connectivity, etc.) have been supplied and installed by the Government of India through its implementing agency Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL).

The Learning Centre has been set up in accordance with an MoU signed between Sierra Leone and TCIL during the visit of India’s Vice President to Freetown in 2019. The eVBAB Network Project [e-VidyaBharati (or tele-education) and e-AarogyaBharati (or tele-medicine) will be hosted on two different Portals.

It is learnt that the eVBAB’s tele-medicine services, which would include Continuing Medical Education and Tele-Consultations would also be launched by India in Sierra Leone by the end of the year. These services would be provided in two hospitals or medical institutions initially.

Sierra Leone is one of the 16 African countries where this Project has been rolled out.

While expressing his gratitude to the Government of India, Prof. Wurie said, “with the opening of eVBAB Learning Centre, a transformation is visible. The Centre would ensure access to several books, journals and other academic material without having to travel outside of Sierra Leone. The students enrolled under this programme now have access to the best universities in India.”

He was happy to note that more than 200 students from Sierra Leone have already enrolled under this programme and are pursuing online UG and PG courses. The Minister announced that a similar Centre would be set up at the Njala University by India.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, the High Commissioner said, “the eVBAB Network Project is an effort to reach out to African countries and assist them in critical areas of education and health. The Project aims to provide quality tele-education and tele-medicine services by linking select Indian Universities, Institutions and Super Specialty Hospitals to African educational institutions and hospitals.”

He further said, “under eVBAB’s tele-education services, the Government of India will sponsor eligible Sierra Leoneans to enroll for online PG, UG, and short-term courses from Universities in India, participating in the programme.”

The High Commissioner hoped that the Learning Centre will supplement the efforts of the Government which has a progressive agenda, with particular focus on education. The Project aligns well with the National Development Plan of the Government whose key goal is human capital development.

The High Commissioner reiterated India’s commitment to strengthen and expand bilateral partnership with Sierra Leone, including in the field of education, training and skill development, as India approaches its 75th Independence Day in a few weeks.

Other dignitaries present at the Inaugural programme included Brig. Gen. Prof. Foday Sahr, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone; Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Fourah Bay College, and Deans and Academicians from various Departments of FBC.

SLRSA & Orange-SL Discuss Areas of Strategic Partnership

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Ibrahim Sannoh, Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority on the 9th July 2021, held a strategic meeting with a team from Orange Sierra Leone at the SLRSA headquarters on Kissy Road. The meeting, which was held on the request of the SLRSA Executive Director, was geared towards mapping out areas of strategic partnership between the SLRSA and the Orange Mobile company.

David Mansaray, CEO of Orange Money expressed profound appreciation stating that the visit was a demonstration of Orange’s determination to collaborate with the SLRSA to address the challenges of Road Safety in the country.

SLRSA Executive Director, Ibrahim Sannoh, dilated on the increase in road traffic crashes both globally and locally further disclosing that in Sierra Leone, a total of 861 persons were killed through road traffic crashes in 2020.

He intimated that based on statistics for 2021 road traffic crashes are on the increase and therefore solicited the support of Orange to address some of the major challenges responsible for this ugly trend.

The Executive Director requested Orange to partner with the Authority in the areas of Road Safety Education, Post-Crash response and Road Safety Signals along major corridors/ trunk roads.

Speaking on behalf of Orange, the Chief Executive Officer for Orange Money, David Mansaray, welcomed the request for partnership from the Executive Director of SLRSA. He called for proposals from the SLRSA on key areas for possible intervention.

The Business Director of Orange, Edward Sesay pointed out that the proposal should clearly outline major areas including emergency toll free line and Post-Crash centres.

The MIS analyst of the SLRSA, Glen Cole, disclosed that SLRSA had been working with the telecommunications company with a toll free line, but said following the transition from Airtel to Orange the service is no longer available.

Earlier, the Acting Director of Human Resource/ Admin, Mariama Masuba, introduced the team from the SLRSA and thanked the team from Orange for giving their time and hoped for the commencement of the partnership soonest.

 

Tourism Minister Unveils International Tourism Book for Africa

By Foday Moriba Conteh

A book titled, “New Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Management in Africa” was launched by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, on the 9th July 2021 via zoom.

The tourism, hospitality and event management book is authored by Senior Lecturers of the school of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, United Kingdom and Associate Professor of Marketing at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria. It provides a management perspective on the historical, contemporary and geographic landscape of hospitality and tourism in Africa, a critical appraisal of applicability of Western theories, gives insights from African management concepts and presents multi-disciplinary local and global viewpoints.

Launching the book and also giving the Policy Perspective from Sierra Leone, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt said it is important for her to participate in the Webinar launch and congratulated those who contributed extensively to the research of the book. With her Social Sciences background from related disciplines, Minister Pratt noted that the African perspective of tourism is not well grounded in terms of using academic, methodology and explanation in explaining to our people for tourism to be seen as a tool for national development, which she said the publication has done.

“What I like about the publication is that it deals with current issues and challenges, and the fact that most of the case studies are from Africa is a laudable thing,” she maintained. She said trying to find available literature in trying to understand the context of tourism in Africa is a challenge, but what she has read thus far in the publication is speaking to them as African Tourism Ministers in leading the change.

She stated that she became Minister of Tourism without having an idea on how the inter-connectedness would be between Government, hence she started by situating tourism within Government where there can be an inter-relationship between water, environment, climate change, road and electricity, and also getting the people to understand that tourism is about the people themselves who she said have a critical role to play.

Minister Pratt added that tourism did very well in Sierra Leone after Independence but because of the war and other tragedies, that faded away to an extent that successive Governments have not been putting much attention to the sector, but with the current Government, tourism is now a top-notch industry in changing the destiny of Sierra Leone. She noted that there is now a National Tourism Policy, Eco-Tourism Policy, reviewing the laws in order to integrate with other sector.

Dr. Pratt said that Sierra Leone’s tourism has been behind for far too long but the accelerated speed it has taken is very encouraging. She maintained that the launch of the book is very timely as it explains the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector in Africa saying that she will recommend the book to Sierra Leone’s Tourism school.

UNDP Supports Meteorological Agency with High Quality Equipment

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Equipment worth thousands of Dollars were donated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), on the 8th July, 2021 to the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMET) at their Conference Room, Off Main Motor Road in Freetown.

The donated items include HP Elite Desktop Accessories, VHF Radios (Aqua Quake), VHF IC-M17 Radios, Remote sensing image processing software packages & equipment to assist climate and oceanographic monitoring, Mirror Stereoscope Complete Kit and HP SD Pro Scanner.

Madam Rokya Ye-Dieng, the UNDP Sierra Leone Deputy Resident Representative, speaking at the handing over ceremony said the equipment were procured through the Global Environment Funds (GEF) Funded Project “Adapting to Climate Change Induced Coastal Risks Management in Sierra Leone”, a project pitched towards enhancing the availability of high quality climatic information data for critical decision-making and supporting adaptation across coastal communities in Sierra Leone.

Madam Ye-Dieng further disclosed that the high performance computers presented to the agency is to be utilized in supporting exchange & archiving of data for the enhancement of a practical system of  coastal climate and sea level rise monitoring systems to support innovative satellite transmission network and hydrodynamic modelling and forecasting facilities which will serve as a basis for enhancing the availability of high quality climate risk information which is critical for decision making within the coastal zones.

“In respect of the VHF Radios, they are expected to be used by SLMET to report on incidences which may come up in the marine environment, whilst the Crank radios are meant to be used in sending early warning messages from the Agency to project locations,” she said.

While making her concluding statements, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative assured the agency that the equipment were of high quality performance and will help provide the requisite backing that will increase the Agency’s capacity to adequately monitor, measure and assess the impact of specific climate change parameters on coastal dynamics.

Speaking on behalf of the Agency, the Deputy Director-General and Head of Operations at SLMET, Gabriel Kpaka expressed gratitude for the support, adding that for over decades, the UNDP has worked tirelessly to improving the human and technical capacity of the Agency.

“Decade-plus years ago, when I joined the Agency, SLMET only had two weather stations and the services provided then, were only limited to the aviation sector, but with the advent of laudable support from the UNDP through the early warning project, and other partners, the country now has diverse weather stations,” Kpaka said.

He furthered that Sierra Leone is among other countries in West Africa including Senegal that now have  marine weather stations that provides up to date marine data and weather information across the country. He revealed that a mobile application (SLMET App) that can be accessed via Google play store was developed in 2017 with the help of UNDP that’s helping in this regard.

SLMET DDG informed the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and all present including staff of the Environmental Agency (EPA) that the Agency’s services are up and running and have gained trust, acceptability and increased usage across Sierra Leone.

“I want to assure you all that going forward, and considering the magnitude of support from the UNDP, we will use the equipment and all other supports to reach out to coastal communities in a bid to tackling the issues emanating from coastal zones.

He ended by stating that the Agency had earlier with assistance from the UNDP supported coastal communities in Lakka, Bonthe, Conakry Dee, Shenge, Turtle Island and Hamilton with mobile phones; having downloaded SLMET mobile applications, but challenges still remain due to the illiteracy rate in these communities, but with the radio sets provided, it will facilitate voice messaging and help bring coastal community dwellers along in attaining climate resilience.

The meeting was chaired by the UNDP Team Lead for sustainability and local economy cluster, Madam Tanzila Watta Sankoh.

SLMET Head of Climatology – Patrick Musa and Public Relations and Outreach Officer- Success Sei Kamara accompanied Kpaka at the handing over ceremony.

To Commemorate 50 Years of Bi-Lateral Ties…. Chinese Embassy & Foreign Affairs Ministry Co-Host Virtual Symposium

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on the 8th July 2021 co-hosted a Symposium on China-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment Cooperation.

July 29th, 2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Sierra Leone diplomatic relations. As one of the serial activities to commemorate the auspicious occasion, the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAIC) co-hosted a virtual symposium on China-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment Cooperation.

Hon. Minister of MFAIC Prof. David Francis, H.E. Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang, Hon. Deputy Minister of MFAIC, Mamadi Gobeh Kamara, IG Ambrose Sovula and other high-ranking officials from Sierra Leone MDAs, representatives of Chinese Business community as well as friends from media participated in the online symposium.

Hon. Minister Francis and H.E. Ambassador Hu spoke highly of the 50-year-old cordial relations featuring mutual trust, mutual understanding, mutual support and win-win cooperation between Sierra Leone and China. They emphasized the importance of expanding trade and investment cooperation between the two sides and shared views on how best to boost this cooperation.

The other attendees offered their felicitations on the 50th anniversary of China-Sierra Leone friendly relations and expressed their willingness to work hand in hand to expand China-Sierra Leone win-win cooperation.

In his speech, the H.E. Chinese Ambassador, Hu Zhangliang, started by saying it is his great pleasure to attend the Symposium jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

He noted that the symposium is held against two major backgrounds: the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Sierra Leone diplomatic relations and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambassador Hu Zhangliang stated that since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971, China and Sierra Leone have always been genuine friends that enjoy mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual support.

He furthered that over the past 50 years, economic and trade cooperation had always been an important part of and a strong driving force for the development of the bilateral relations.

The Ambassador highlighted how over the past one year or so, the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world and severely affected all countries including China and Sierra Leone.

“Like all other countries, China and Sierra Leone face the arduous task of fighting the pandemic, stabilizing the economy, and ensuring people’s livelihood,” he said frankly adding that they are holding the symposium to review the achievements of the two countries’ trade and investment cooperation, explore new opportunities, discuss ways of overcoming challenges, and promote the alignment of the cooperation with Sierra Leone’s development diplomacy and the National Medium-term Development Plan maintaining that it is an event of great importance.

He intimated that in recent years, protectionism has been on the rise in certain parts of the world, the world economy has been in the doldrums, the global market has been shrinking, and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the inward-looking trend of some countries.

According to him, in a situation where global trade and investment cooperation encounters headwinds, China has actively upheld true multilateralism, unswervingly pursued a win-win strategy of opening up, worked earnestly for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and actively promoted the Belt and Road cooperation.

The Chinese Ambassador said last year, China took the lead in bringing the pandemic under control and resuming work and production in the world through tremendously hard efforts disclosing how China was the only major economy that achieved positive economic growth.

“Over the past 50 years, fruits of China-Sierra Leone cooperation can be seen everywhere, from the Youyi Building, the National Stadium, the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, the Friendship Highway, to the Office Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fibre Backbone Network Phase 1 and 2, the newly started Sierra Leone Foreign Service Academy, and the newly completed 3.2-kilometer Ring Road in Freetown etc,” he intimated adding that  numerous tangible projects have been witnesses to the ever-growing friendship between China and Sierra Leone.

He said since 2018, the Chinese side has completed 16 Government aid projects or programs for Sierra Leone with another 15 under implementation and some others in discussion.

The Ambassador further revealed that In May this year, H.E. President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, during which the two Heads of State reached new and important consensus on the development of China-Sierra Leone relations, setting the direction for the next step of cooperation between our two countries.

“The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has been working closely with the Sierra Leonean side, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and all sectors of the society to enhance cooperation in various fields,” he pointed out adding that the total trade volume between China and Sierra Leone in 2020 was $530 million, up by 4.4% year on year.

He continued that from January to May this year, the combined bilateral trade volume is approximately $287 million, an increase of 63%over the same period in 2020.

The Ambassador informed how Chinese companies have invested in infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and other industries in Sierra Leone maintaining that the total amount exceeds $3 billion. “Chinese investment has created about 5,000 direct jobs for the local people and has made important contributions to Sierra Leone’s social economic development,” he disclosed.

“Standing at the new starting point of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, I see great potential for deepening trade and investment cooperation between China and Sierra Leone,” he expressed optimism saying Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources.

He said under the strong leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, the Government of Sierra Leone is committed to realizing the mid-term national development plan and has embarked on Development Diplomacy, both of which set the promotion of trade and investment cooperation as a major task.

Other participants made salient contributions.

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